Christmas tree holder



J. L. FREEL CHRISTMAS- TREE HOLDER Aug. 8, 1950 Filed June 11, 1945 -f/aor line use A A.

Patented Aug. 8, 195d UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE CHRISTMAS TREE HOLDER Joseph L. Freel,'Bay City, Mich., assignor of onehalfto Freel Bros. Industries, Bay City, Mich.,

Application June 11, 1945, Serial No. 598,674

. 3 Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in Christmas tree holders and has for its object the provision of a holder which is simple to'construct, economical to manufacture and assemble, and which is readily adjustable to suit tre trunks of various sizes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a holder including a Water-tight receptacle in which the lower end of the tree trunk is placed, to the end that the tree will remain fresh for a longer period of time.

Another object is to provide'a Christmas tree holder in which the individual legs are readily'adjustable so that the tree may bere'adily straightened, and in which the efliciency of the holder increases in proportion to the weight of the tree supported thereby.

Another objectis to provide quickly detachable means for retaining the locking ring in set position on the legs.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportion, and minor details of construction, without departing from the spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side-elevational view of my Christmas tree holder showing a tree trunk is position therein.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view with one of the legs broken away.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view through one of the legs and strap standards.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side-elevational view through the liquid receptacle.

Fig.5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one of the legs and the clamping ring.

Referring now to the drawing in which I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention. The numerals 8 and 9 indicate a pair of base bars preferably formed of bar iron or similar material, these bars being disposed at right angles with relation to each other and are held together by means of a bolt l which extends into the liquid receptacle II, the end of the bolt being pointed as shown, and a nut I2 is provided to clamp th parts in assembled relation as usual.

The center sections of the base bars are preferably bowed and for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

Spaced-apart legs l3 are adjustably mounted on the base bars '8 and. 9, the. lower end sections ing slotted as at [5, and bolts B are anchored in the base bars 8 and 9 and project through said slots, the bars being punched to accommodate the head l6 of the bolt, and wing nuts ll are provided on the upper ends for securing the legs in set position. a

These legs l3 are bent upwardly and are in wardly inclined as indicated at [8, and are again bent outwardly as at IE, or the sections l8 and I9 can be formed of a single curve if desired, the extreme upper end section of the legs being; turned substantially at right angles as indicated at 20, with the ends serrated to form teeth 2|, which pierce and bite into the tree trunk T when the holder is in use.

All of the legs are formed identically alike, and a plurality of spaced-apart openings 22 are provided in the upper section [9 as clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing.

A clamping ring R is placed over the upper end of the leg assembly, and when forced downwardly, tends to force the legs toward a common center so that the teeth 2| bite into the trunk T, and small angularly formed keys K are inserted in the openings 22 to hold the ring in set position.

To adjust the legs to fit a tree trunk or larger diameter, the operator merely loosens the wing nuts l1, slides the legs I3 outwardly on the base bars 8 and 9, after which the wing nuts are tightened to hold the legs in set position, and downward movement of the ring R. serves to draw the upper ends of the legs toward each other.

In practice, the holder is assembled and liquid placed in the receptacle II, the tree (not shown) is then placed in upright position in the holder, with the trunk T centered on the sharp tapered end of the bolt Ill.

The clamping ring R is then forced downward- 1y, drawing the upper ends of the legs towards each other so that the teeth 2i bite into the trunk, and the keys K are then inserted in the openings 22 to secure the clamping ring in set position, thus holding the tree firmly in the holder, and inasmuch as each leg is independently adjustable, it will be clearly obvious that the tree can be easily and quickly straightened in the holder by adjusting any one of the legs to suit.

As the weight of the tree is imposed on the holder, it tends to spring the strap standards 8 and 9 downwardly, thus forcing the teeth 2| more firmly into the tree trunk.

From the foregoing description, it will be obvious that I have prefected a very simple, practical and economical tree holder which lends itself to quantity production with resultant low cost of manufacture and assembly.

What I claim is: v

1. In a tree holder of the character described, a pair of crossed, upwardly bowed base bars pivotally secured together at a point intermediate their length, legs mounted on said bars and adjustable longitudinally thereon, said legs extending upwardly and being formed with a straight section inclined toward the vertical axis of the holder, each leg terminating in an inwardly turned toothed section for engaging atree trunk, spaced apart openings in said inclined leg sections and a clamping means embracing the upper inclined sectionsof the legs and movable vertically to force them towards'a common center, and quickly detachable angularly shaped locking means mounted in at least two .of said legs and bearing on said clamping means for securing it in set position. 7

2. A construction as defined in claim 1 in which the crossed base bars are upwardly bowed from end to end a liquid receptacle mounted thereon, and a single bolt connecting said bars and the receptacle, the upper end of the bolt being threaded and tapered and sharpened to clamp the members tightly together and pierce the butt of a tree.

3. In a tree holder of the character described, a pair of opposed upwardly bowed base bars having a liquid receptacle mounted thereon, and secured on said bars in assembled relation, legs adjustably mounted on said bars with their lower ends lying in facial contact therewith, slotted openings in said legs, and bolts in said bars for securing the legs in adjusted position, the upper sections of the legs being bent upwardly and inwardly towards each other, the extreme ends terminating in serrated end sections, a clamping ring placed over the upper ends of the assembled legs and being adjustable vertically thereon for drawing said legs towards each other, spaced openings in the upper end sections of the legs, and angular'ly shaped pins removably mounted in said openings for securing said ring in adjusted position.

JOSEPH L. FREEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

